2025 ICD-10-CM code Q72.8
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities - Reduction defects of lower limb 17 Feed
Other reduction defects of lower limb(s).
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a congenital reduction defect affecting the lower limb(s) that requires medical intervention, monitoring, or treatment.
Clinical responsibility typically falls upon various specialists involved in the care of the patient, including orthopedists, geneticists, pediatricians, and neonatologists. They are responsible for diagnosing the condition, determining the extent of the malformation, and recommending appropriate treatment and management strategies.
In simple words: This code indicates a birth defect where one or both legs haven't fully formed. This happened during early pregnancy and can range from missing bones to a shorter leg.
This code represents other congenital reduction defects of the lower limb(s), meaning one or both legs have not developed properly due to disruptions during the early weeks of pregnancy. This can manifest in various ways, including missing or underdeveloped bones, shortened limbs, or other structural abnormalities.Several factors can contribute to these defects, including genetic conditions and exposure to certain medications during pregnancy.
Example 1: A newborn infant is examined and found to have a shortened femur in one leg, with no other apparent abnormalities. This isolated reduction defect is classified under Q72.8., A fetus is diagnosed prenatally with a combination of fibular hemimelia and a missing toe on the same leg. This combination of reduction defects falls under Q72.8., A child presents with a significantly smaller foot and calf on one leg compared to the other, consistent with a reduction defect not otherwise specified, thus coded as Q72.8.
Documentation should include detailed clinical findings from physical examinations, imaging studies (X-rays, ultrasounds, MRI), and possibly genetic testing. Prenatal records, if available, can also be helpful.
** This code is not to be used on the maternal record. If a more specific code within Q72 exists, it should be used instead of Q72.8.
- Specialties:Orthopedics, Genetics, Pediatrics, Neonatology, Radiology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Office